NEW EDITION with a new chapter (No. 11) on 'Easy Trig Solutions in Degrees'. See 'Preface' and 'Contents' tabs below.
Pothi paperback (for India only): Rs.500
Description
This book shows an original and highly effective way of unifying many branches of mathematics using Pythagorean triples. A simple, elegant method for combining these triples gives unexpected and powerful general methods for solving a wide range of mathematical problems. There are applications in trigonometry (you do not need any of those complicated formulae), coordinate geometry (2 and 3 dimensions), transformations (2 and 3 dimensions), simple harmonic motion, astronomy etc., etc.
Reviews
I feel strongly that the methods you have pioneered, such as "Triples", etc; will catch on all around the world....
Gary Adamson, U.S. mathematician.
I bought your books on Triples and Astronomical Applications. I am at the moment pursuing the book on triples. I like it very much. In fact I noticed the mathematics of addition , subtraction of angles using triples. It makes the laborious proofs and steps needed for the derivations using coordinate geometry (as is usually done nowadays) look superfluous. It is so simple and easy to understand. It is simply enjoyable. Thanks for all the ideas you have put forth because it has opened up vast vistas for imagination. Raji Sharma, Vedic Maths teacher, India.
An eye-opener!
If you are attracted to the beauty and simplicity of Mathematics, and if you are drawn to the elegant patterns within Pythagorean Triples then this book will take you on an amazing voyage of discovery. Following the introduction of a few simple arithmetic methods for working with triples, there follows a host of traditional mathematical topics worked using the new 'triple' method. The efficiency and elegance of the mathematics is often breathtaking. Solutions which traditionally may take many steps of complex algebra just fall out in a few straightforward applications of the triple method.
At the core of the book is Mathematics from the Indian Vedic culture (c2000 BC to c600 AD). This is a new territory for me (and I suspect for most) but is a departure that I found refreshing and stimulating. I thoroughly recommend this text for anyone with a knowledge of Mathematics at approximately A Level standard and a love for the beauty of the subject.
Des Prez (Ireland), 14 May 2009
Preface
The unchanging laws of number have always been a source of delight and inspiration. Particularly attractive are the Pythagorean triples which have so many elegant and interesting properties. But these triples are also of great practical use: through the theorem of Pythagoras the triples link the three main branches of mathematics: number, algebra and geometry.
This appears to be the first time that these triples have been developed into a useful structure, having applications in trigonometry, transformations in 2 and 3 dimensions, coordinate geometry in 2 and 3 dimensions, solution of triangles and equations, complex numbers, hyperbolic functions, simple harmonic motion, astronomy etc. Many more applications are also likely to appear. This book shows how the triples (and their 3-dimensional equivalent, quadruples) can be developed and applied and how they form a unifying thread linking many areas of mathematics.
In this latest edition of the book (2017) the chapter on Hyperbolic Functions has been replaced by a chapter on Easy Trig Solutions in Degrees. This shows how we can get a good first estimate of trig functions and their inverses (to at least 2 significant figures) and is therefore of practical use. The entire book has been reformatted and many minor modifications made.
This book also serves as an illustration of Vedic Mathematics: a mathematical system which has been rediscovered by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960) from ancient Vedic texts and is expounded in his book (see Reference 1). This system is based on sixteen formulae which are said to give one line answers to all mathematical problems. Being based on fundamental principles these Vedic formulae are therefore conspicuous in any structure that is developed in a simple and natural way. As the triples idea is introduced and extended in this book the operation of these formulae is evident. The formulae are expressed in word form (for example, By One More than the One Before) and as they arise in the text they are indicated by italic type. An index of these formulae will be found at the end of the book.
The diagram below gives a guide as to how the chapters in this book depend upon each other, so that Chapter 8 for example, can be understood by first reading only Chapters 1, 2 and 6.
Contents
PREFACE vii
1 TRIPLES 1
The Triple Theorem 2
Some Historical Background 3
Notation for Triples 4
Equal, Prime and Complementary Triples 5
Some Perfect Triples 6
2 TRIPLE ARITHMETIC 7
Addition of Triples 7
Double Angle 9
Triple Subtraction 10
Quadrant Angles 13
Triple Geometry 15
Angles of 30°, 60°, 45° etc. 16
Half Angle 17
Simplifying Calculations 20
Summary 21
3 TRIPLE TRIGONOMETRY 22
Introduction 22
Inverse Functions 25
The General Triple 26
Solution of Trigonometrical Equations 30
Further Trigonometrical Equations: A 32
Further Trigonometrical Equations: B 34
Further Trigonometrical Equations: C 35
4 TRANSFORMATIONS IN A PLANE 39
Transposition of the Origin 40
Rotations 40
Spirals 44
Integration of cosx etc. 45
Rotation of Lines and Curves 46
Reflections 48
5 COORDINATE GEOMETRY 53
Length of Perpendicular 53
Foot of Perpendicular 55
Angle between Two Lines 56
Equation of a Line 58
Further Examples 59
6 CODE NUMBERS 61
Grouping Triples 61
Code Numbers 63
Geometrical Significance of the Code Numbers 64
Code Number Pairs 65
Code Numbers as Triples 66
Algebraic Formulation 67
Converting Code Numbers to Triples 68
Converting Triples to Code Numbers 69
Addition and Subtraction of Code Numbers 69
Code Numbers of Code Numbers 70
Code Numbers of Complementary Triples (CT) 70
Code Numbers of Supplementary Triples (ST) 72
Code Numbers for 0°, 90°, 180°, 270° 72
Relation between Code Numbers and Angles 73
Further Examples 74
Summary 76
7 SOLUTION OF TRIANGLES 77
The Angle-Deficiency Formula 77
The Sine Formula 81
The Code-Number Formula 84
8 FURTHER APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLES 87
Solution of Equations 87
Complex Numbers 89
Conics 91
Difference and Sum of Two Squares 96
Incircles and Circumcircles 98
The Golden Triple 100
9 ANGLES IN PERFECT TRIPLES 101
Revision 101
Triples and Their Angles 103
Finding the Angle in a Given Triple 106
Further Applications of Code Numbers 111
Finding a Triple with a Given Angle 112
A Refinement 114
10 SINE, COSINE, TANGENT AND INVERSES 118
Near Triple, Small Triple 118
Sine, Cosine and Tangent 119
Inverse Cosine and Inverse Sine 121
Inverse Tangent 125
11 EASY TRIG SOLUTIONS IN DEGREES 129
Proportion 130
Finding a Side 131
Small Angles 134
Finding an Angle 135
12 APPLIED MATHEMATICS APPLICATIONS 141
Simple Harmonic Motion 141
Projectiles 147
Forces in Equilibrium 151
Work Done by a Force and Moment of a Force 154
13 THE TRIPLE METHOD 155
Range of Application 156
Deriving the Conventional Formulae 157
Two Comparisons of the Conventional and Triple Methods 159
14 QUADRUPLES 161
Introduction 161
Quadruple Generators 163
Obtaining the Code Numbers of a Perfect Quadruple 163
The Coordinate Axes 164
Quadruple Subtraction 164
Comparative Densities of Perfect Triples and Perfect Quadruples 165
15 APPLICATIONS OF QUADRUPLES 166
Coordinate Geometry 166
Work and Moment 170
Rotation about Coordinate Axis 171
3-Dimensional Rotation of Curves 172
Rotation 173
Conicoids 175
16 QUADRUPLES IN ASTRONOMY 178
1. Addition of Perpendicular Triples 178
2. Change of Coordinate System 180
3. Quadruples and Orbits 182
4. Quadruple for given i and A 182
5. Inclination of Orbit 183
6. Quadruple Subtraction 183
7. Quadruple Addition 184
8. Doubling and Halving a Quadruple 185
9. Code Number Addition and Subtraction 185
10. Angle in a Quadruple 187
11. Angular Advance 188
12. Relationship between d and A 188
13. To Obtain a Quadruple with a Given Inclination 191
PROOFS 193
ANSWERS TO EXERCISES 204
REFERENCES 211
INDEX OF VEDIC FORMULAE 212
INDEX 214
Back Cover
Pythagorean triples like 3,4,5 have been a fascination for thousands of years. Now for the first time a simple elegant system, based on these triples, has been developed which
reveals unexpected applications in many areas of pure and applied mathematics.
These include general applications is trigonometry, coordinate geometry (in 2 and 3 dimensions), transformations (in 2 and 3 dimensions), simple harmonic motions, projectile motion,
astronomy etc.
The easy triple method links these areas and replaces large numbers of apparently unconnected formulae with a single device.
This book fully explains the various applications and most of it should be accessible to anyone with the basic understanding of mathematics which a school leaver should have.
Kenneth Williams has been studying, researching and teaching Vedic Mathematics for over 40 years. He has published many articles, DVDs and books and has been invited to many
countries to give seminars and courses. He gives online courses, including teacher training. Research includes left-to-right calculating, Astronomy, applications of Triples, extension of Tirthaji's 'Crowning Gem', Calculus.
